Workers’ Compensation Scam Alert: What You Need to Know
How the Scam Works
Scammers may contact you pretending to be involved in your workers’ compensation claim. They might reach out by phone, email, or through apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. In some cases, they may even use video calls.
They may invite you to participate in a remote “hearing.” This can appear legitimate, with people acting as judges, attorneys, or government officials.
During the conversation, they may tell you:
- You’ve been awarded a large settlement, and
- You need to pay a fee (such as taxes or processing costs) to receive your money
These scams can be very convincing—but they are not real.
A Real Example
In one case, an injured worker believed they had been awarded more than $400,000.
They were falsely instructed to:
- Send $4,000 for “taxes,” and
- Send another $3,000 to release the funds
After sending the money, the worker never received any payment. During a real hearing, they were told it was likely a scam and were advised to contact law enforcement.
Important Things to Remember
Please keep the following in mind:
- You will never be asked to pay money to receive workers’ compensation benefits
- Legitimate hearings will not take place over apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger
- Courts and agencies will not ask you to send money by wire transfer
- If something doesn’t feel right, take a moment to verify it through official contacts
- Report anything suspicious right away
What to Do if You Think It’s a Scam
If you are contacted and something doesn’t feel right:
- Do not send money or share your personal information
- Stop communicating with the individual immediately
- Report the situation to your local law enforcement
- Contact your claims representative or MEMIC directly